The damage was extensive throughout the clubrooms at the Cranbourne Junior Football Club.From left: Jakob McCubbin, Martin Leinmueller, coach Wayne McGrath, Todd McGrath and Kai Weller continue to enjoy their football despite the setback to their club.By Callan Date
THIEVES have struck the Cranbourne Junior Football Club for the sixth time in three months and club volunteers are becoming extremely frustrated at the continued burglaries.
The latest incident occurred sometime between 13 April and 16 April at J and P Camm Reserve, when thieves forced their way through the main entry door and stole $1500 worth of goods.
Club president Dieter Leinmueller said the spate of break-ins was frustrating for everyone involved at the club, especially for the players who recently had two sets of football jumpers stolen in a separate incident.
“We all volunteer our time and hard work so the kids can play football and one or two idiots in the community continue to wreck it for everyone,” he said.
“We had a whole heap of canteen supplies stolen, $300 from our petty cash supply, 13 match day footballs, four walkie talkies and also a safe that was to be installed,” Mr Leinmueller said.
All the money raised from preseason fundraising has gone into replacing and repairing the stolen and damaged property, and the committee has been forced to come up with new ideas to ensure the club is financially stable for 2006.
“Any work that has gone into raising money this year has just covered what has been knocked off and damaged,” Mr Leinmueller said.
“We have arranged a raffle with the help of the Dandenong Stingrays Football Club which should raise about $2000 for us and supply us with funds to buy new jumpers.”
The club has increased security in a bid to deter any future incidents and ensure further hard work from club volunteers is not in vain.
“We are in the process of installing pad bolts to all our external doors and we are also getting quotes from security companies regarding video surveillance and motion sensors,” Mr Leinmueller said.
Anyone with any information regarding the latest theft can contact Senior Constable Steve Regnier of Cranbourne Police on 5995 4577 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
